Type-writing machine



(No Model.) I

G. B. WEBB. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

Patented Jan; 26, 18-97.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

g J By his Allamey UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. WVEBB, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE WYCKOFF,

SEAMANS & BENEDICT, OF ILION, NEW YORK.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,917, dated January 26, 1897.

Application filed May 16, 1896. b'erial No- 591,'7 88. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. \VEBB, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention relates to that kind of cardholding devices made the subject-matter of another'application filed simultaneously herewith, Serial No. 591,787, and marked Case A; that is to say, card-holding devices which are mounted upon or attached to the platen itself and are adapted to rotate therewith.

My invention has for one object to provide simple and effective means for holding cards, envelops, stiff paper, or the like to or upon the surface of a cylindrical platen in such a manner that the card or the like maybe caused .to conform to the surface of the platen and lie closely thereagainst, especially in the printing plane and in the immediate vicinity thereof, in orderthat the types may strike firmly and squarely and deliver practically as good impressions as when printing upon thin or ordinary writing-paper; and my invention has for a further object to provide a construction by which the card-holding device may be readily attached to and detached from the platen,whereby the same platen may be used in connection with the card-holder for the printing of cards or the like, and also without the card-holder for the printing of ordinary letters, &c., upon thin sheets of paper, thereby avoiding the necessity for the employment of two platens for both classes of work, as in the construction made the subject-matter of my aforesaid other application; and my invention has for a still further object to provide means for elfecting a relative adjustment between the card-holder and the line-spacing ratchet-wheel. The purpose of this adj ustment is to enable the printing to be begun at any desired point on the card. Cards sometimes have an initial line printed or ruled thereupon and on which it is desired to begin the first line of printing. To bring this line to its place relatively to the striking point of the types, it is necessary to adjust/the card. The detent of the platen ratchet-wheel always maintains the platen at certain points in its revolution, and it is therefore necessary to out of working position for the first line of print.

My invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of devices, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a type-Writer carriage having my improvements applied th ereto,and Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical-section taken at the line 00 a; of Fig. 1.

In both views the same parts will be found designated by the same numerals of reference.

1 designates the paper-carriage or platenframe, which may be of any desired design or construction.

2 is a cylindrical platen mounted to rotate within said carriage or frame, and in this instance comprising an axle 3, an interior hollow core or support 4., and an outside rubber sheath or cover 5, all of the usual construction.

At the right-hand end of the platen is the usual ratchet-wheel 6, forming a part of the line-spacing mechanism, and with which engages a spring-acting detent 7, either of roller or V-shaped form, as customary.

8 designates the usual feed-roller, hung in arms or brackets 9 and forced against the platen by means of a spring or springs 10.

The core is preferably made of wood andat each end extends beyond the sheath or cover 5, whereby a circular recess or depression 11 is formed at each end of the platen. At this locality at each end is inserted radially into the core a metallic bushing 12,

ICO

which is threaded centrally, as at 13, to receive the threaded end of an attaching-screw 1a, which passes through a slot 15, made lengthwise in the shank 16 of a clasp or catch 17, the shank being concentric with the core and adapted to bear upon its periphery and the clasp or catch being bent outwardly, as at 18, to stand away from or overhang the surface of the core and form an intermediate space 19 for the introduction of a tongue 20 at the end of the card-holder plate 21.

The card-holder-plate is of a length equal to that of the sheath or cover and at each end is formed with an extension 22, which overlies the protruding end of the core, and to the under side of said extension is soldered, preferably, the tongue 20, which has a thick root or base 23.

The plate 20 is concentric with the platen and is convex on its outer side and concave on its inner side and adapted to bear firmly on the surface of the cover with the extensions overhanging the core and the tongues occupying the circular recesses 11, together with the clasps or catches 17. The tongues are formed or provided with wedge-shaped or beveled ends 24 to facilitate their introduction under the free ends of the clasp and with cam or convex faces 25 to obtain a se cure locking effect, the free ends of the metallic clasps being adapted thereby to be wedged or sprung outwardly as the tongues are inserted and thereby cause the clasps to bear with sufficient friction upon the tongues to hold the plate firmlyin operative position upon the surface of the platen.

In both views the card-holder is shown in proper working position. The engagement of the device with the platen is eflected simply by placing the plate against the surface of the cover and then by a circular movement causing the tongues to enter under the free ends of the clasps, preferably to such an extent that the extreme outer ends of the clasps abut against the roots or bases 23 of the tongues.

\Vhen it may be desired to use the platen for ordinary work, the card-holderis detached by a reverse operation, and when removed from the surface of the platen it will be observed that the clasps,which may always remain on the platen in readiness to receive the card-l1older,will in no way interfere with the placement of sheets of paper on the platen nor with the ordinary printiu g operation, since said clasps occupy the said recesses or depressions 11 and do not protrude at any point beyond the plane of the cover. As amatter of fact in practice the highest point of the clasp is slightly below the outside face of the cover.

At one longitudinal edge of the card-holder is formed an undercut or groove 26 and an outstanding ledge, lip, or flange 27 for holding the leading edge of the card 28, which in the operation of the contrivance is inserted under the ledge and into the space or pocket formed between the surface of the platen and the under side of the said ledge. The platen may then be rotated to bring the card to the impression-plane.

In the front-strike machine or construc tion shown the platen, card-holder, and the card are rotated down to bring the card to the under side of the platen for printing. At Fig. 1 the card is in printing position, at which time it will be observed that the leading edge of the card is held by the said flange and by the feed-roller, so that the card conforms accurately to the surface of the platen. During the rotative feeding-in movement referred to the feed-roller acts to bend the card about the platen as the leading edge of the card leaves or passes by the said feed-roller. Of course a feed-clamp, pressure-blade, deflector, or other well-known substitute for a feed-roller may be used instead of the latter or in conjunction therewith.

I have shown at 29, Fig. 2, the usual pressure-blade or scale-bar which assists in holding the card in curved form. The card is held against or close to the platen along two or more lines of contact, one at the ledge and the other at the feed-roller or other analogous device. The card is held firmly under the ledge and against the same by the inherent spring or tension in the card, due to its being wrapped or wound about the surface of the platen by the feed -roller, &c. card has been brought to the desired position, the types may be actuated in the usual way to effect printing.

The invention is of course equally adapted for both top-strike and bottom-strike machines.

To adjust the card-holder circumferentially of the platen, the screws 14 are loosened and the clasps or catches shifted circumferentially of the core or support the required extent. The slots 15 are made long enough in practice to permit of circumferential adjustment of about three-eighths of an inch, but this is determined by the distance apart of the spaces between the ratchet-teeth of the wheel 6. If it be desired to begin the printing on a card at a certain point or on a previously-ruled line, the card may be placed in such a position against the platen that the types will strike justabove the ruled line, whereupon the card-holder may be brought up against the leading edge of the card and so that the ledge overlaps the same. The clasps should then be reclamped by the screws before the printing is proceeded with.

It will be understood that the circumferential adjustments may be effected either while the card-holder is in the grip or embrace of the catches or when detached therefrom.

Although provision is made for an adj ustment of the full distance between two ratchetteeth or two adjacent spaces, the adjustment required in a given case may be less than a tooth-space. After the adjustment has once been made any number of like cards may then be introduced without further adjust- WVhen the ment, but when a new card or set of cards having ruled lines which extend more or less back from the leading edge of the card is used then a readjustment should be made. Of course if it is immaterial where the printing shall be begun relatively to the leading edge of the card then the adjustment referred to need not be made. In such cases the provision for adjustment maybe eliminated from the contrivance.

Various changes in details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of my improvements, some of which may be used Without others.

That I claim as'new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen having clasps or catches secured at its ends, and a card-holder on the surface of the platen provided at its ends with means for engaging said clasps or catches.

2. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen having circular recesses or depressions at its ends, clasps or catches-secured thereat, and a cardholder adapted to bear against the peripheral cover of the platen and provided at its ends with devices to engage said clasps or catches.

3. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of a platen provided at its ends with circumferentially-adjustable clasps or catches, and a card-holder provided at its ends with engaging devices therefor.

4. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen provided at its ends with attaching means consisting of shanks and overhanging clasps, and a card-holder provided at its ends with engaging tongues.

5. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of a platen having attaching devices at its ends, and a card-holder on the surface of the platen having a longitudinal ledge and provided at its ends with attaching devices to cooperate with those secured at the ends of the platen.

6. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen provided at its ends with spring-clasps, and a card-holder on the surface of the platen provided at its ends with tongues adapted to frictionally engage said clasps.

7. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen having a circular depression at each end, an attaching device adjustable on said platen, and a card-holder consisting of a plate provided with a ledge extending lengthwise thereof and provided at each end with a tongue to engage its associated clasps.

8. In a type-writing machine, the combina-- tion with a platen and its ratchet-Wheel and detent, of adjustable clasps secured to the platen, and a card-holder adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from said adjustable clasps.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 14th day of May, A. D. 1896.

GEORGE B. IVEBB.

Witnesses: g

D. S. RITTERBAND, K. V. DONOVAN. 

